Journal Essay

Part 1 : After viewing the Odyssey Plan videos, print and fill out an odyssey plan worksheet as described in the videos:  https://designingyour.life/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DYL-Odyssey-Planning-Worksheet-v21.pdf (Links to an external site.)

This worksheet will require you to create three separate timelines for three alternative life paths.  

Part 2 : Once the worksheet is completed, create (as a separate document) a visual/graphical timeline expands upon what you consider your "first choice" timeline from the odyssey plan that lays out the first five years of your post-graduation career.. Remember: The day after graduation is the first day of Year 1. Identify your five-year career goal (where do you want to be in your career in five years?) and work backwards to identify at least two key decision points and at least three benchmarks that you will need to meet along the way. Use the sources below and from class to research prerequisite degrees and training requirements.  

Key decisions  could be things like: deciding whether to move for school or a job, deciding to change your major or add a second degree, deciding which school or graduate program to enroll in, deciding to buy or sell a house, deciding to go back to school, deciding if or when to get married or have children, deciding between two possible job options, etc. You are not required to include personal life decisions, but sometimes they are important to consider when planning a timeline. Use your discretion.

Career benchmarks  may be things like: enrolling in graduate school (date of application, date program starts, date of expected graduation), obtaining an entry-level position, acquiring additional professional training and/or skills, earning a promotion, etc.

Provide, at a minimum, the following information about each benchmark or decision:

· Date that the decision needs to be made or benchmark needs to be achieved.

· If your decisions or benchmarks involve graduate school, use Petersen’s or Princeton Review to identify the program(s) you might apply to. Provide information about: entry requirements (GPA, GRE, prior experience or degrees, etc.), time to graduation, cost, available funding for students, and career choices of graduates.

· If your decisions or benchmarks involve jobs, use the resources below to describe median salary and wage information for each job along your path. Provide information about the academic and professional requirements for your job (years in school, required licenses/degrees, previous work experience, etc.).

· For each benchmark (academic and professional), provide information about the geographic location, quality of life and cost of living in that area, and job outlook in that area.

Part 3 : After creating your expanded graphical timeline, explain (in the same document) in 1-2 single-spaced paragraphs how your academic major, interests, skills and values map onto this chosen career path. Using the resources linked to below, describe how changing employment trends might affect your career path – for example, is the field growing or shrinking? Is the nature of the work changing? Cite the resources use used to describe these trends.

Include a statement that reflects on how the path you have chosen will affect your current or future student debt. Use the financial aid calculator here to get an estimate of the monthly payments and required salary to keep up with loan payments:  http://www.finaid.org/calculators/loanpayments.phtml (Links to an external site.)   

You do not need to disclose your current (or future) debt. But consider and answer the following:

· Does the average salary for your chosen profession put you in a position to pay down any student debt you may incur (including for your bachelor’s degree) during your education? How long will it take? 

The assignment is worth  20 points .

Formatting Guidelines:

· Submit two (2) files: the completed odyssey plan worksheet AND the expanded timeline of your "first choice" plan as described above.

· The expanded timeline should be created graphically, in the format of your choice (hand drawn legibly, Power Point, Word, etc.), but ultimately submitted as a .pdf to preserve your formatting choices.

· The expanded timeline should also include a written summary in the same document, consisting of 1-2 paragraphs, single-spaced, using 12 point standard font (i.e., Times New Roman, Arial, Helvetica – nothing fancy).

· Use in-text citations to indicate your sources, e.g. (OOH 2014) or (O*NET 2014)

· Use the resources recommended here, rather than relying on search engine results.

· Proofread your assignment for typographical and grammatical errors.

 

CAREER RESEARCH SOURCES

WHAT CAN I DO WITH THIS MAJOR? | WHATCANIDOWITHTHISMAJOR.COM/MAJOR

SEARCH MAJORS

· Best Category: Health and Wellness

· Best Majors: Healthcare Sciences, Public Health, Medical Fields

BEST RESOURCES FOR YOUR RESEARCH

· Sample employers for each occupational area

· Information/Strategies for students pursuing specific occupations

· Links to Professional Associations (most professional groups have a section devoted to Careers and Education, which can be an additional good source for your paper)

· Links to Miscellaneous Career Information

· Links to Job Postings

PETERSON’S | WWW.PETERSONS.COM/GRADUATE-SCHOOLS

SEARCH GRADUATE PROGRAMS

· Search by degree level, area of study, and location

· Search a specific occupation from the upper right

OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK HANDBOOK | WWW.BLS.GOV/OOH

SEARCH OCCUPATIONS

· Browse Occupation Groups: Healthcare

· Search Handbook: search a specific occupation from the upper right

BEST RESOURCES FOR YOUR RESEARCH

· What They Do

· Work Environment

· How to Become One

· Pay

· Job Outlook

· More Info (links to professional associations, licensure information, O*NET)

O*NET ONLINE | WWW.ONETONLINE.ORG

SEARCH OCCUPATIONS

· Browse Occupation Groups: Healthcare

· Search Handbook: search a specific occupation

BEST RESOURCES FOR YOUR RESEARCH

· Sample of reported job titles

· Abilities

· Work Activities

· Work Context

· Interests

· Work Styles

· Work Values

· Search Salary & Wage Information by State

EXPLORE HEALTH CAREERS | EXPLOREHEALTHCAREERS.ORG

SEARCH HEALTHCARE CAREERS

· Browse by health area on the left-hand menu

· Search a specific occupation from the upper right

BEST RESOURCES FOR YOUR RESEARCH

· Overview of each Profession, with salary, job outlook, and working conditions

· Academic Requirements

· Links to more resources (professional associations, funding, enrichment, schools, overall source)